The Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon.Dr.Philip Mpango , has urged all Tanzanians to report incidents of violence to ensure appropriate actions are taken against the perpetrators.
He made this call while representing the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Tanzania Association of Women Judges and Magistrates (TAWJA), held at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) on January 20, 2025.
He noted that many women, children, and men experience gender-based or physical violence but fail to report these incidents to legal authorities, and that certain customs and traditions continue to oppress victims.
He emphasized that despite the government's commitment to promoting gender equality, women, who constitute over half of the population, still face limited opportunities in property ownership and experience gender discrimination.
He referenced the National Plan to Combat Violence Against Women from 2016, indicating that out of ten women, four have experienced physical violence, and one in five has faced sexual violence, particularly among those under 15 years of age.
Furthermore, the Vice President highlighted findings from the 2022 UN Women Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI), which reveal that gender-based violence in Tanzania is exacerbated by child marriage, familial discrimination, violence against women, lack of reproductive autonomy, and issues related to land ownership.
According to a 2022 World Bank report on Gender-Based Violence in Tanzania, 40% of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, while 17% have encountered sexual violence.
The Vice President has stated that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is committed to enhancing gender equality and empowering women through the establishment of the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children, which oversees gender equality issues.
This government initiative is evident in national strategies, plans, and policies such as the National Development Vision 2025, the Five-Year National Development Plans, the National Strategy for Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction (NSGR), and the National Policy for Women and Gender Development of 2000.
Furthermore, the Sixth Phase Government, led by Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, has demonstrated its commitment to improving performance in the delivery of justice, including ensuring gender equality at various levels of the judiciary. Statistics indicate that in the Court of Appeal, 33% of judges are women, while in the High Court, the figure is 38%. Among court registrars, women represent 33%, and deputy registrars account for 48.72%. Additionally, women make up 50% of the magistrates in Resident Magistrate Courts and 41% in Primary Courts.
The Vice President has called for a culture of recognizing and celebrating women's achievements in society to inspire other girls and women to learn from and emulate these examples. She highlighted notable women in the country who have excelled in various fields, starting with President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan , the first female president, and Bibi Titi Mohamed , a prominent figure in the fight for the country's independence, among many others.